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Violet Crown Trail

The Violet Crown Trail began as a vision in 1998 to create the first regional trail system in Central Texas. After nearly 20 years of strategic land acquisition and planning, it’s on its way to becoming Central Texas’ newest hike and bike trail.

The trail will provide a unique recreational experience as it passes through the urban wildlands of the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, the City of Sunset Valley and eventually into Hays County. Along its route, the trail will connect scenic natural areas to neighborhoods, shopping centers, a library and public parks. Passing near the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Violet Crown Trail will head south, winding through the rolling countryside of the City of Austin’s Water Quality Protection Lands in a uniquely natural setting.

HCC’s Project Manager, Butch Smith, explaining the Violet Crown Trail to the rest of the staff.

The first phase of trail construction began in 2014, and once completed, it will connect Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the Veloway. Beginning in March 2015, the Texas Conservation Corp began installing new mile marker and wayfinding sign posts on the main trail of the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail/Violet Crown Trail system. The first five miles of this trail system, from Zilker Park to Brodie Lane at Highway 290, will officially open to the public in the fall of 2015. The second phase of construction, beginning in 2016, will connect the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to the Onion Creek Management Unit, one of the most beautiful tracts of Water Quality Protection Lands.

The Violet Crown Trail represents the greater vision of Hill Country Conservancy’s work to get people out on the land. Surrounded by wildlife, clean streams and breathtaking views as it runs through land preserved by HCC and its partners, the trail will give users an opportunity to experience these conservation lands for the first time.